Summary

Harnack’s lectures sought to answer the question, “What is Christianity?” in a purely
historical way. In the centuries before, scholars, clergy, and laypersons turned to their
Bibles or their church’s creeds for the answer. For Harnack, examining Christianity with
the tools of historical criticism signified a return to true Christianity, which had become
mired in unnecessary and even damaging creeds and dogmas. Learning the raw historical
facts, for him, was one way to strip away all but the foundations of the faith. In his
lectures, then, Harnack spoke in terms of facts rather than tradition. Instead of looking to
evangelize his audience, he looks to build up their understanding of the Christian religion
as an historical force, moving through and shaping the times.

Kathleen O’Bannon

CCEL Staff

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Basic information:
Adolf von Harnack (7 May 1851–10 June 1930), was a German Lutheran theologian and prominent church historian. He produced many religious publications from 1873-1912. Harnack traced the influence of Hellenistic philosophy on early Christian writing and called on Christians to question the authenticity of doctrines that arose in the early Christian church.